By Amin Kef Sesay
The Director of Information within the Ministry of Information and Communications has on the 27th October 2021 stated that rumours making the rounds that the Government of Sierra Leone has accepted the deportation of some 800 Sierra Leoneans from the Federal Republic of Germany are untrue and unfounded.
He furthered that the welfare of our nationals abroad, including those under any adverse conditions, remains one of Government’s core national interests.
“As the public is aware, countries all over the world have their immigration laws, and we encourage our nationals wherever they are to adhere to the local laws in much the same way as we expect foreign nationals to comply with ours,” he stated adding how Government has been informed that the German Government (having regard for its immigration processes) had listed some illegal immigrants for deportation to their respective countries of origin, including some who claim to be Sierra Leoneans.
He continued that the Government of Sierra Leone was informed about the planned deportation process and due diligence was initiated to verify the identity of those reported to be Sierra Leoneans.
Therefore, he informed, the Government of Sierra Leone dispatched a team of experts to Germany to pursue the verification.
He emphasized that the process was sadly misunderstood to be a deportation exercise, leading to a demonstration, attack on the country’s diplomatic personnel and arrest of some protestors in Munich, Germany.
It was pointed out that Government is working with its German counterparts to conclude the verification exercise which will inform next steps, and equally ensure that those who committed wrongs on the persons of two of our Diplomatic Agents bear full responsibility for their reprehensible conduct.
The Director of Information assured that Government remains committed to the welfare of its citizens and upholding the long-standing friendly ties with the Federal Republic of Germany.
